Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ — the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions and sorrows. For His Son Jesus Christ, we rejoice in the tribulations in which we have our part, knowing that the sufferings of the present age are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come; and that when His Son Jesus Christ appears on the day of His coming, we shall also be in eternal joy and gladness. We give Him thanks!

In these last days in which we live, a great confusion has arisen within the Church of Jesus Christ concerning the notion of the Great Tribulation. Some teaching that the Church will not know the Great Tribulation — that she will be raptured well before it (the majority position); and others (the minority) teaching that the Church will pass through the Great Tribulation and that the Rapture will come only after it. All of these divergences arise simply from the lack of a clear biblical definition of the concepts of the Great Tribulation, the Wrath of God, the Third World War, and even the Battle of Armageddon. Indeed, for the teachers of a pre-tribulation rapture, the Great Tribulation is nothing other than the wrath of God — and the Church is spared from this wrath. For the teachers of a post-tribulation rapture, the Great Tribulation is an event distinct from the wrath of God; in other words, for them the Great Tribulation is none other than the tribulation of tribulations that the Church must endure.

With such divergences in teaching in these last days, if the entire Body of Christ — the global Church — does not have a clear definition on this subject of the Great Tribulation, many risk being caught off guard by the events that are coming and will consequently miss the mark. That being said: biblically speaking, what is the Great Tribulation? For whom is it intended? Why the Great Tribulation, and how long will it last? Is it the wrath of God, or the Third World War? These, beloved, are the questions we will answer biblically — with supporting texts — in this teaching.

In order to understand fully the concept of the Great Tribulation, it is necessary for us to set aside for a moment the adjective "Great" and to focus first on the word Tribulation — for one might also speak of a small tribulation. With regard to the Bible, what is a Tribulation? For whom is it intended, and what purpose does it serve?

Matthew 13:21
[...]: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Matthew 24:9
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

Revelation 1:9
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

In the simplest terms and from these passages, tribulations can be defined as the torments, outrages, oppressions, sufferings, and all manner of persecutions brought about by the testimony of Jesus Christ and His Word. We already understand from this that only the disciples of Jesus Christ — those who truly hold His testimony and His Word — can experience tribulations. And Jesus Christ Himself declared this during His time on earth.

John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

We clearly see from this passage in John 16:33 that the Lord addresses Himself exclusively to His disciples — that is, to Christians who are truly born again — and not to those outside, that is, the world. The Lord says plainly that as long as we are in the world, we will have tribulations; we will have to suffer for Him. Let us read Philippians 1:29.

Philippians 1:29
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Let us add to this passage of Philippians 1:29 the passage of 1 Thessalonians 3:3.

1 Thessalonians 3:3
That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

What does this passage of 1 Thessalonians 3:3 teach us? It tells us clearly that we — the saints of God, we — the Church of God — are appointed unto tribulations. In this sense, no true born-again Christian — I say none — can escape tribulations. In other words, one cannot speak of a true disciple of Jesus Christ in this world under the influence of the evil one without tribulations.

What Are Tribulations For?

One might therefore ask: what purpose can these tribulations serve us? To answer this question, let us turn to 2 Thessalonians 1:4–5.

2 Thessalonians 1:4–5
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

What can we draw from this passage? We see that tribulations serve to make us perseverant in our walk with the Lord; they serve to assess the quality of our faith in Christ; they render us worthy for the Kingdom of God. If God therefore permits us to pass through tribulations, it is to shape our faith, to make us steadfast, and to cause us to trust in Him at all times.

Acts 14:21–22
²¹And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, ²²Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Through this passage from the Acts of the Apostles, we see once again how indispensable tribulations are for our entry into the Kingdom of God. Let us now examine Revelation 2:10.

Revelation 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

What teaching does the Lord give us here? First, the Lord exhorts us not to fear tribulations. Through this text, the Lord teaches us that it is not He who is the source of the tribulations we experience — it is the devil; God only permits them in order to try us — that is, to gauge the quality of our faith and to see to what extent we can remain faithful to Him (Deuteronomy 8:1–3). Through this same passage, the Lord also teaches us that tribulations are not eternal: they arise at a given period of our lives and have a well-defined duration — in this case, ten days. Finally, through this same text of Revelation 2:10, the Lord teaches us that what matters to Him is that we remain faithful unto death in the face of tribulations — that we never betray Him. Let us also read Romans 5:3–4 and Romans 8:17.

Romans 5:3–4
³And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Romans 8:17
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Note also that beyond these few benefits of tribulations, they also serve to produce within us joy and gladness.

1 Peter 4:12–14
¹²Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ¹³But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. ¹⁴If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Matthew 5:11–12
¹¹Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹²Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

God Delivers Us from All Tribulations

Of all the tribulations we may experience, God alone has the power and authority to deliver us from them.

2 Corinthians 1:8–10
⁸For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: ⁹But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: ¹⁰Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

2 Timothy 3:10–11
¹⁰But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, ¹¹Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

An Important Clarification

We are not speaking here of sufferings resulting from a crime or offense committed and whose consequences one is enduring. We are speaking here of the sufferings brought about by our testimony and faith in Jesus Christ — of the sufferings arising from our obedience to Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:15–16
¹⁵But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. ¹⁶Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

To conclude this excursus on tribulations, let us read the following two passages.

2 Timothy 3:12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Romans 8:18
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

If therefore we are called to live through tribulations, what then of the Great Tribulation?

If you have carefully followed and understood this excursus we have opened on tribulations, you will already be in a position to define what the Great Tribulation is. The Bible defines the Great Tribulation as a period of great distress, great suffering, and great persecution such as has never before existed — and this most particularly for the Church of Jesus Christ. In other words, it is a period of the greatest trial, of supreme demonstration of faith, for all those who are called saints of Jesus Christ. That being so, the Great Tribulation is none other than the Tribulation of tribulations — that is, the final and ultimate level of tribulation. Let us read Mark 13:19–20.

Mark 13:19–20
¹⁹For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. ²⁰And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

If we are appointed unto tribulations (1 Thess. 3:3) as we have seen above, then we will not escape the Tribulation of tribulations either. For what distinguishes the present tribulations from the Great Tribulation is nothing other than the degree or intensity of the sufferings. The tribulations we currently endure are — if I may say so — moderate; whereas in the Great Tribulation, the sufferings will be terrible and overwhelming, as the name itself indicates.

As we saw above in Revelation 2:10, it is not God who is the source of the tribulations we experience — it is Satan, the devil. And it is the same for the Great Tribulation. For the Great Tribulation, Satan will use the beast — also called the Antichrist, the horn, or the lawless one — to persecute the Church or the saints of God with great ferocity; the saints will be delivered into his hands and overcome by him.

Revelation 13:1, 7
¹And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. ⁷And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Daniel 7:21–22
²¹I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; ²²Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

If the texts of Daniel and Revelation testify to the presence of the saints during the reign of the Antichrist, this means that the Rapture of the Church will only take place after the great distress — the Great Tribulation.

Mark 13:24–27
²⁴But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, ²⁵And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. ²⁶And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

How Long Will the Great Tribulation Last?

Beloved, like other tribulations, the Great Tribulation will also have a well-defined duration. The Bible sets the duration of the Great Tribulation at 1,290 days — that is, 3.5 years or 42 months. This duration is also described as "a time, times, and half a time" — which still corresponds to 1,290 days or 3.5 years.

Daniel 12:6–7
⁶And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? ⁷And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

Daniel 7:25
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Daniel 12:11–12
¹¹And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. ¹²Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

Why must it last 3.5 years? The number 3.5 is half of 7 — 7 defining what is complete or perfect, and 3.5 defining what is incomplete or imperfect. If it lasts 3.5 years, it is to signify that the persecution and suffering will not be total; for if it were 7 years — that is, complete — no one would be saved. This is why the Lord has shortened those days.

Mark 13:20
And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

In the continuation of this teaching, we will see together why the Church must pass through the Great Tribulation.

May the Lord bless you!